Devata (1965 film)

Devata
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	K. Hemambharadhara Rao
Screenplay by	K. Hemambharadhara Rao
Story by	Veeturi
Produced by	B. Purushottam Padmanabham (Presents)
Starring	N. T. Rama Rao Savitri
Cinematography	M. G. Singh
Edited by	M. S. N. Murthy
Music by	S. P. Kodandapani
Production company	Rekha & Murali Combines
Release date	24 July 1965 (1965-07-24)
Running time	168 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Devata (transl. Goddess) is a 1965 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by B. Purushottam, presented by comedian Padmanabham on his Rekha & Murali Combines banner and directed by K. Hemambharadhara Rao.^[1] It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Savitri, with music composed by S. P. Kodandapani.^[2]

The film begins with an ideal couple, Prasad & Sita, who lead a delightful life with a son, Madhu. Everyone applauds Sita as the finest woman of her amicable, obedient & caring nature. Once, she suddenly walks up because of her terminally ill father, Seshaiah. Tragically, the train traveling meets with a disastrous accident. Knowing it, Prasad rushes to the railway hospital, where he detects unconscious Sita between victims lying in heaps and shifts her home. Therein, Sita cannot recognize anyone, behaves strangely, and seeks to abscond. Ergo, the doctor's opinion is that she may be in an insane state. It drowns the family into deep distress and ailing Madhu.

Besides, Seshaiah dies, entrusting the property to Sita, when his malicious nephew Jaganadham envies and ruses to usurp it. Prasad consults renowned specialist Dr. Rukmini, who startlingly affirms that the lady is not Sita, a doppelganger, Lalitha. Afterward, Lalitha also comprehends the situation when Prasad requests her whereabouts. Indeed, Lalitha is needy and brought up under the scorn of her maternal uncle & aunt. An affluent guy, Ramesh, endeared her but refused to knit for the dowry, and the elders compelled her to wed a wealthy drunkard. So, Lalitha attempted suicide by falling under the same train on which Sita was moving. Prasad implores Lalitha to act as Sita for a few days to secure his family, and she does. At this, she nears and grows attached to them.

Meanwhile, Prasad collapses after identifying Sita's skeleton buried in the destruction via the bangles he bestowed. He recovers and decides to perform Lalitha's nuptial with Ramesh by granting the required dowry. However, Ramesh suspects Prasad & Lalitha's relationship. Thus, she rebukes and expels him. Simultaneously, Jaganadham abducts Lalitha & Madhu, and Prasad shields them by ceasing him. Overhearing the totality, Prasad's parents state Lalitha is their daughter-in-law. At last, Lalitha decides to replace Sita, considering the family's affection. Finally, the movie ends happily with the marriage of Prasad & Lalitha.

Music composed by S. P. Kodandapani.

Veeturi wrote this story for a drama company called Rekha and Murali Arts. Later everyone involved thought that the story was not suitable for a stage drama as the heroine of the story has to perform a dual role. It was felt that the story was suitable for a motion picture.^[3] Padmanabham took up the task of producing the film under the banner Rekha & Murali Arts with the support from Kakarla Venkateswarlu of Vani film distributors. Padmanabhan mortgaged his house for Rs. 40,000 for the initial capital. Most of the shooting was done in Vauhini Studios, Chennai in three months.

• Vanisri acted as a guest in the college anniversary festival song "Naaku Neeve Kaavalera".
• Master Murali acted as Madhu, son of Prasad and Seeta. He is the eldest son of B. Padmanabham.
• Padmanabham portrayed the character as Varahalu, who is crazy about films and film actors. In the film, he visits Madras to personally meet many famous film actors of that time.
• Vallam Narasimha Rao, one of the partners in Rekha and Murali Arts has acted in the film as the lover of Savitri.

• Devata at IMDb